Life after Mbappe is proving better than expected for Ligue 1 leaders PSG
Kylian Mbapp's departure was expected to sidetrack Paris Saint-Germain this season. How would a team long viewed as over-reliant on the France superstar cope without him after his move to Real Madrid?
Who could score so freely for PSG when Mbapp averaged more than 40 goals per season over the past four campaigns and more than 250 in seven years at the club? And, who would bail the team out of trouble with last-gasp winners?
Things have turned out rather well, so far, and the widely anticipated post-Mbapp headache has not materialised. Far from it.
PSG is the only team to have won its first three games in the French league and has scored an impressive 13 goals.
No longer being so reliant on Mbapp seems to have produced an early side effect, whereby the goals are being shared around and teamwork has improved in coach Luis Enrique's side.
Bradley Barcola has led the way with four goals, adding a finishing touch to his skilful dribbling down the left, while his France teammate Randal